Bag fastener for flexible bags

ABSTRACT

The disclosed fastener for pliable food bags consists of a conical-shaped base that tapers into a round, slotted top section that is open at both ends. The device contains a slotted opening that allows for a segment of flexible bag material to be secured within the slotted section. The slotted opening extends across the length of the device and contains a protruding notch to hold plastic bags in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/161,778 entitled Bag Closure for Flexible Bags filed Mar. 16, 2021, which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Pliable produce bags are heat sealed units that can be used to protect, store, and transport produce sold at grocery stores. These bags are inefficient at preserving produce once the consumer has opened them because they are apt to tear. The disruption in bag integrity allows oxidation to occur at a faster rate, which shortens produce shelf life, and subsequently leads to food waste and monetary loss for the consumer. An alternative option for storing produce is a flexible bag that contains a neck section and a certain channel where the bag's neck section is secured. These bags accommodate for a host of various produce items making them extremely versatile, but like the pliable bags, these are also extremely ineffective at extending shelf life of certain produce items such as bread-related foods.

One of the most popular methods to seal bread-related foods and produce is by using twist ties and other twist tie products. A twist tie closure is manufactured by encasing a strip of melded known and unknown metal wiring between two thin strips of paper or plastic. The various metals used to manufacture twist ties are non-recyclable materials and, as such, potentiate environmental harm as sole use devices. Although twist ties can be used for a variety of household organizational purposes, they are not desirable for optimal food storage due to unclear wire orientation and their inability to promote adequate produce shelf life. Other unfavorable factors include an unsightly appearance and installation/removal difficulties, which may be more consumer-dependent in nature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements in these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but are included to clearly illustrate the principles pertaining to this disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front profile view of an exemplary bag fastener with a flexible bag secured thereto accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a side profile view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a front peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C is a rotated from peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a front peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is an alternative front peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3C is a rear peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3D is a bottom peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3E is a top peripheral view of bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3F is an alternate top peripheral view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a front profile view of another embodiment of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a side profile view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a top plan view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D is a rotated profile view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 4C.

FIG. 4E is a side profile view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 4A

FIG. 4F is a top view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a top view of another embodiment of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is a top view of another embodiment of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 5C.

FIG. 5E is a top view of another embodiment of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5F is a bottom view of the bag fastener as shown in FIG. 5E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is a bag fastener for closing flexible bags. The exemplary bag fastener comprises one frustoconical rigid body having an open channel slot extending the length of the frustoconical rigid body. A notch within the open channel aids in keeping flexible produce bags fastened securely, while the hollow cone extension provides adequate coverage along the neck of bread, bakery, or food-related pliable produce bags. The hollow cone extension of the bag fastener contours slightly from a larger dimension to a smaller dimension to provide a more compressed fit around bags.

The bag fastener offers several advantages, which include: (1) the functional capability to create an airtight seal on flexible bags; (2) a user-friendly interface to quickly open flexible bags; (3) an effective way to extend the storage life of flexible bag contents; (4) an environmentally-conscious alternative to other bag closure methods in the form of a rigid closure made from recyclable materials rated for outdoor use; (5) a cost-efficient method of bag sealing that does not require additional tools for usage; and (6) an aesthetically pleasing appearance compared to other bag closure methods.

In one embodiment, the bag fastener is constructed with recyclable materials that provide a rigid, inflexible, and reusable structure. Such materials include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and others, which aid in facilitating repeated installation and removal of the bag fastener. The preferred method of fabrication is by injection molding.

FIG. 1 is a flexible bag fastener system 102. The system 102 comprises a flexible bag 101 that is closed with a bag fastener 100. The flexible bag 101 may be any type of flexible bag (e.g., bread bag, pastry bag, etc.).

The bag fastener 100 is secured around the bag neck 2 of flexible bag 101. FIG. 1 shows portion of bag neck 2 material that is secured and compressed within the bag fastener 100 to provide an airtight seal for bag contents. Bag neck 2 is a section of the flexible bag 4 that has been twisted to close flexible bag 101. The installed bag fastener 100 on flexible bag 101 creates a bag tail 6 that is excess material not used in conjunction with the bag fastener 100. The bag tail 6 is utilized as a handhold when installing and removing the bag fastener 100. The lower section 4 of flexible bag 101 below the bag fastener 100 is held stationary once the bag fastener 100 is affixed to the bag neck 2 while the bag tail 6 moves freely above.

The closed bag profile of bread and bakery-related contents provides a twisted section in the shape of a cone. In this regard, a cone section 8 is positioned on flexible bag 101. Cone section 8 is equipped with dimensions to mimic the shape of bread, bakery, and food-related contents to ensure the bag fastener 100 remains securely installed.

To properly lock the bag fastener 100 in place, FIG. 2A shows hollow cone section 8 where the diameter of the bottom 201 is larger than the diameter of the top 200 that follows a closed bag profile shown in FIG. 1. The bag fastener 100 comprises a lateral slot 12 that begins at the top 200 of the bag fastener 100, continues down the profile of the bag fastener 100, and terminates at the bottom 201 of the bag fastener 100.

The lateral slot 12 receives the neck 2 of the bag 101 (FIG. 1). The slot 12 contains a notch 14 and a slot 10. The 14 and the slot 10 receive portions of the neck 2 of the flexible bag 101. The notch 14 and the slot 10 ensure that the neck 2 of the flexible bag 101 does not slip out of the bag fastener 100.

In FIGS. 2B and 2C the bag fastener 100 comprises the open slot 12 starting from the base 201 of the bag fastener 100 and extends to the top 200 of the bag fastener 100. The bottom of slot 12 has a width for the bag neck 2 to fit into and transitions to a smaller width at the top 202 of the cone section 8. The cone section 8 has a slot 10 that protrudes into the same plane as the bag closure. The slot 10 is a single indent that creates a notch 14 in the opposite plane direction. Notch 14 is a rectangular-shaped protrusion that is positioned at the top 202 of the cone section 8. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, at the top 202 of cone section 8, notch 14 extends into slot 10 at a smaller width than at the bottom of cone section 8.

The smaller lead in cone section 8 of slot 10 and notch 14 aid in preventing bag neck 2 from falling out of the bag fastener 100. Cone section 8 transitions into hollow cone extension 16 as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Hollow cone extension 16 has cylindrical form that contours from a larger diameter at the top 202 of the cone section to a smaller diameter at the top 200. Hollow cone extension 16 has a diameter suitable for bag neck 2 to securely hold the flexible bag 101. Significant bag neck 2 material is allowed within the hollow cone extension 16, which renders the bag fastener 100 capable of improving storage life to bag contents with an increased surface area of compression along the bag neck 2 profile.

The bag fastener 100 is typically 31 to 33 mm tall and 29 to 31 mm in width. The bottom of cone section 8 has an outside diameter of roughly 29 to 31 mm. The bottom 201 cone section 8 has an inside diameter roughly 27 to 29 mm and the top 202 cone section 8 has an inside diameter typically 6 to 8 mm in diameter. Cone section 8 typically has thickness from 1.35 mm to 1.90 mm. The cone section 8 has an inside height roughly 9 to 11 mm. Dimensions for the slot 12 begins at the bottom 201 cone section 8 with a width from 6 to 8 mm and continues up to the notch 14 with a confined width of typically 3 to 4 mm and the slot 12 ends at the top 200 of the cone section 8 with a rough width of 3 to 5 mm. The slot 12 thickness typically is of 1.35 mm to 1.70 mm. The cut section 10 has a typical bottom width from 7 to 8 mm and a top width from 5 to 6 mm.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the hollow cone extension 16 contours from an outside thickness from 1.40 to 1.60 mm at the base and 1.05 to 1.25 mm thickness at the top. Bag neck 2 diameter on standard bread and food-related bags typically ranges from 6 to 12 mm. To compress and keep flexible bag contents and the bag neck 2 airtight, the hollow cone extension 16 contains a bottom inside diameter of 6.30 to 6.40 mm and the top inside diameter of typically 5.65 to 5.75 mm. FIGS. 3A-3F illustrate the various peripheral views of the bag closure. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the bag closure is shown as a consistent typical thickness of 1.35 mm to 1.70 mm within the cone section 8, cut section 10, and notch 14. The thickness of the hollow cone extension 16 shows a slight tapering thickness from 1.40 to 1.60 mm at the bottom and 1.05 to 1.25 mm at the top.

FIG. 2C shows a rear peripheral view that is clean in appearance and provides an alternative view of slot 12. FIGS. 4A-4F depict profile and plan views of the bag closure. FIG. 4C illustrates a top view of the bag closure that clearly shows the transition from a large slot 12 opening at the base of cone section 8 to notch 14. The transition to a smaller width at notch 14 creates a point of compression for the bag neck 2 to pass and sit tightly into the hollow cone extension 16.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 includes cone 8, which extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The bag fastener 100 also includes a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from the wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is slot 12. The slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14. Further, slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202.

In operation, a user (not shown) thins the neck 2 (FIG. 1) of the flexible bag 100. The user then pushes the thinned part of the neck 2 into the slot 12 so that the remaining top of the flexible bag 100 protrudes through an opening 300 in the top 202 of the bag fastener 102. The notch 14 deeps the neck 2 of the flexible bag 102 in the slot 12.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 comprises the cone 8 that extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of the cone 8. Further, the bag fastener 100 comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with the cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of the cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is a slot 12. The slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14. Further, the slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202.

In operation, a user (not shown) thins the neck 2 (FIG. 1) of the flexible bag 101. The user then pushes the thinned part of neck 2 into the slot 12 so that the remaining top of the flexible bag 101 protrudes through an opening 300 in the top 200 of the bag fastener 100. The notch 14 keeps the neck 2 of the flexible bag 101 in the slot 12.

In one embodiment, the width of slot 12 at the base of cone 8 is w₁. The width w₁ may be 3-8 millimeters. It may be other widths in other embodiments.

FIG. 3C is a back view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 comprises cone 8, which extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The bag fastener 100 also includes a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller diameter top 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is a slot 12. Further, slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202 of cone 8.

FIG. 3D is a bottom perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 comprises cone 8, which extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The diameter at the base 201 is larger than the diameters at the top 202. Further, the bag fastener 100 comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller width top 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is a slot 12. Further, the slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202 of cone 8.

FIG. 3E is a top perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 includes cone 8, which extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The diameter at the base 201 is larger than the diameters at the top 202. Further, the bag fastener 100 includes a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller width top 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is slot 12. On the slot 12 is a slot 10. Further, slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202 of cone 8.

FIG. 3F is a top perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 includes cone 8, which extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. Further, the bag fastener 100 comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is slot 12. Slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14. Further, slot 12 tapers from the bottom 201 to the top 202 of cone 8.

FIG. 4A is a side front view of another embodiment of a bag fastener 600. The bag fastener 600 comprises a cone 8 that extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The bag fastener 600 also comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is slot 12. The slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14.

FIG. 4B is another side front view of the bag fastener 600. The bag fastener 600 comprises a cone 8 that extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. The bag fastener 600 also comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of the cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is slot 12. The slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14.

FIG. 4C is a top view of the bag fastener 600. The cone 8 is integral with slot 12 that extends from a bottom 201 of a cone to a top 202 of a hollow cone extension 16 (FIG. 4B). The neck 2 of flexible bag 101 (FIG. 1) is within slot 12, and an upper portion of the flexible bag 101 extends from the opening 300. The protrusion 14 and the slot 10 secure the bag to the bag fastener 600.

In one embodiment, the width of the slot 12 at the base of the cone 8 is w₂. The width w₂ may be 8-12 millimeters. It may be other widths in other embodiments. The larger width allows the bag fastener 600 to receive larger bags than that allowed by a width of w₁ FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4D is lateral side view of the bag fastener 600. An alternative view of the hollow cone extension 16 is shown on FIG. 4D as a rotated profile view. FIG. 4D demonstrates a view of hollow cone extension 16 with a taper that begins slightly larger and ends slightly smaller. The bag fastener 600 comprises a cone 8 that extends from the base 201 to the top 202 of cone 8. Further, the bag fastener 600 comprises a hollow cone extension 16 that is integral with cone 8 and extends from a wider top 202 of the cone 8 to a smaller width 200. Extending from the top 200 to the bottom 201 is a slot 12. The slot 12 has a slot 10 and a notch 14.

FIG. 4E is a back view of the bag fastener 600. The bottom cone 8 is integral with the hollow cone extension 16. The flexible bag 101 is inserted in the bag fastener 600 on the opposing side.

As shown in FIG. 4E, the rear profile view of the bag closure features rounded edges at the cone section 8 base, a filleted transition from the cone section 8 to the hollow cone extension 16, and rounded edges at the top of the hollow cone extension 16.

FIG. 4F shows a view from the bottom of cone section 8 looking up into the bag fastener 600. The inside of the bag closure is smooth from the base of cone section 8 to the top of the hollow cone extension 16. FIG. 4F provides an alternate view of slot 12 transitioning to a smaller width at notch 14 to aid in locking bag neck 2 material safely into the hollow cone extension 16.

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of the bag fastener 100. The bag fastener 100 comprises a conical base 8 that is integral with a cone extension 16. A slot 12 extends from the bottom 201 of cone 8 to the top 200, forming an opening 300 therein. The conical base 8 extends at an angle up to the top 202 of conical base 8. Formed in the slot 12 is a slot 10 and a notch 14 for securing the bag in the cone extension 16.

In one embodiment, the beginning of the slot 12 has a width w₁. In one embodiment, the width w₁ is 3-8 mm. The width may differ in other embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the bag fastener 100 shown in FIG. 5B looking up into the bag fastener 100. The inside of the bag fastener 100 is smooth from the base of cone section 8 to the top of hollow cone extension 16.

FIG. 5C is a top perspective view of the bag fastener 600. The bag fastener 600 comprises a conical base 8 that is integral with cone extension 16. A slot 12 extends from the bottom 201 of cone 8 to the top 200, forming an opening 300 therein. The conical base 8 extends at an angle up to the top 202 of conical base 8. Formed in the slot 12 is a slot 10 and a notch 14 for securing the bag in the cone extension 16.

In one embodiment, the beginning of the slot 12 has a width w₂. In one embodiment, the width w₂ is 8-12 mm. The width may differ in other embodiments.

FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the bag fastener 600 shown in FIG. 5C looking up into the bag fastener 600. The inside of the bag fastener 600 is smooth from the base of cone section 8 to the top of the hollow cone extension 16.

FIG. 5E is a top perspective view of the bag fastener 700. The bag fastener 700 comprises a conical base 8 that is integral with a cone extension 16. A slot 12 extends from the bottom 201 of the cone 8 to the top 200 forming an opening 300 therein. The conical base 8 extends at an angle up to the top 202 of the conical base 8. Formed in the slot 12 is a slot 10 and a notch 14 for securing the bag in cone extension 16.

In one embodiment, the beginning of the slot 12 has a width w₃. In one embodiment, the width w₃ is 12-18 mm. The width may differ in other embodiments.

FIG. 5F is a bottom view of the bag fastener 700 shown in FIG. 5C looking up into the bag fastener 700. The inside of the bag fastener 600 is smooth from the base of cone section 8 to the top of hollow cone extension 16.

The purpose of bag fasteners 100, 600, and 700 is to quickly seal and open flexible food and produce bags while also increasing shelf life of bag contents by using compressive forces and friction. The bag closure is intended to be constructed with inflexible recyclable materials that permit repeated extensive use.

First, the flexible bag (FIG. 1) is rotated or twisted to form a bag neck 2 section as shown in FIG. 1. Second, starting from the bottom of cone 8, slot 12 is rotated as shown in FIG. 4D and slowly pressed into the bag neck 2 and forced around just past notch 14. After the bag neck 2 is pushed past notch 14, the bag fastener 600 is then rotated vertically as shown in FIG. 4A. Next, while bag neck 2 is held within the hollow cone extension 16, the bag closure is pulled away from the bag tail 6 to create a tight seal for contents inside flexible bag 4 as shown in FIG. 1. To remove the bag closure, bag neck 2 is pulled away from the hollow cone extension 16 and past notch 14.

This bag closure is a superior method compared to other currently existing bag closure methods due to speed and simplicity of installation. FIG. 1 shows an installed bag closure on a flexible bag that takes seconds to install. The bag fastener provides an airtight seal, thereby significantly improving the storage life of bag contents.

Existing closure devices provide a poor seal, while the bag fastener 100 provides a large area of compression that creates a more generous seal on bag materials. The bag closure is easily manageable in one's hand, which makes the bag closure advantageous to other cheap, smaller, archaic bag closure devices. Existing closures are not made to properly seal flexible bags, and as shown in FIG. 1, this bag fastener is made to benefit edible bag contents. 

What I claim is:
 1. A bag fastener for product containers, comprising: a. a frustoconical body; b. a cylindrical section integral with the frustoconical body; c. a slot in the frustoconical body that traverses to a top of the hollow cylindrical section; d. a notch in the slot configured for holding a flexible bag neck and retaining a bag.
 2. The bag fastener according to claim 1, wherein said top of frustoconical body is joined to said bottom of the hollow cylindrical section.
 3. The bag fastener according to claim 1, wherein said frustoconical body is hollow.
 4. The bag fastener according to claim 1, wherein said concave cylindrical section is hollow.
 5. The bag fastener according to claim 1, wherein said slot extends the entire length of said bag fastener.
 6. The bag fastener according to claim 1, wherein said notch is of rectangular shape.
 7. A funnel shaped, one-piece bag fastener, open at both ends and comprising: a. a conical-shaped base section; b. a hollow cylindrical contoured end section; c. a slot having a predetermined profile of said bag fastener for receiving flexible bags, d. a cutout section within said bag fastener, e. a notch to secure said flexible bag within said bag fastener.
 8. The bag fastener according to claim 7, wherein said base section tapers at an approximately 45-degree angle.
 9. The bag fastener according to claim 7, wherein said conical-shaped base section typically has thickness from 1 mm to 5 mm.
 10. The bag fastener according to claim 7, wherein said conical-shaped base section typically has a bottom inside diameter of 20 mm to 40 mm and a top inside diameter typically 2 mm to 12 mm.
 11. The bag fastener according to claim 7, wherein said contoured end section typically has a thickness from 1 mm to 5 mm.
 12. The bag fastener according to claim 7, wherein said conical shaped base section has a typical inside height of 7 mm to 20 mm.
 13. The bag fastener to claim 7, wherein said contoured end section has an inside diameter from 4 mm to 12 mm. 